Chartulary of the abbey of Lindores, 1195-1479

Front matter

A m

QVI D • ME LIVS-BONITATE • eT BENE^ICENTIA-

THE

Preface

The Scottish History Society is indebted to Colonel J. A. S. Cuninghame, of Caprington Castle, Kilmarnock, for permission to print the text of the Chartulary, and to photograph the specimen pages which appear in this volume. The editor has to add his thanks to Colonel Cuninghame for personally verifying some doubtful readings after the manuscript had been returned to Caprington. The thanks of the Society and of the editor are due to Mr. Alexander Gibb, F.S.A. (Scot.), for the observations on place-names and persons which he has been so good as to furnish to the Notes and Illustrations ; and to Mr. William Rae Macdonald, F.S.A. (Scot.), for his valuable Appendix on the Seals of Lindores, and for procuring the impressions of the seals which have been photographed and are here reproduced.

In the course of this work acknowledgment is made of the obliging services of several gentlemen who have aided the editor in elucidating points of more or less difficulty. The editor's special thanks are due to a distinguished charter and record scholar, who, so long as health allowed him, was unfailing in his help, but who has forbidden the mention of his name. This gentleman's labours unfortunately extended to only the earlier charters of the volume. Subsequently the editor has enjoyed the invaluable assistance rendered by Dr. J. Maitland Thomson, Curator of the Historical Department of H.M. General Register House. The editor has been, he fears, barefaced and unblushing in his demands ; but Dr. Thomson's generosity has condoned his innumerable imporvi tunities. Mr. J. T. Clark, Keeper of the Advocates' Library, was so good as to assist both with wise counsel and the loan of books in regard to the difficult task of verifying the authorities cited in the 6 Legal Opinion 1 (No. cxlix.), which was a line of research quite outside the circle of the editor's ordinary studies. The editor is also under innumerable obligations to Dr. T. G. Law, Secretary of the Society.

The editor in the course of many years has had frequent struggles with printers, who for the most part like to follow their own ways rather than those of the authors whose 6 copy ' they are employed to set up. But in the present case he is compelled to acknowledge that he has been saved from many a,n error by the intelligent and keen proof-reading, both of the Latin and the English, in the office of the Edinburgh University Press.

The Index has been prepared by Mr. Alex. Mill of the Signet Library.

One of the most delightful of the compensations for labours, such as those demanded by the task now brought to a conclusion, is the vivid sense of brotherly fellowship created by the ready generosity of others engaged in similar lines of research. And, if he may trust his own feelings, the editor is certain that he is not justly liable to a Sitcrj a')(apLo-Tias<) should the Court of Session, like the judicatories of ancient Athens, entertain such an action at law.

J. D.